Watch-holder for conductors



(No Model'.)

R. s. WILES & H. A. GROUX. WATCH HOLDER FOR GONDUOTORS, MOTORMEN, &c.

No. 563,534. Patented July 7,1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD S. WVILES AND HENRY A. GROUX, OF WVEST ORANGE, NEWV JERSEY.

WATCH-HOLDER FOR CONDUCTORS, MOTORMEN, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,534, dated July 7, 1896.

Application filed February 5, 1896. Serial No. 578,095. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD S. WILEs, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and HENRY A. GRoUX, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Watch-Holders for Conductors, Motormen, &c., of which the following is a specification.

In running street-cars, especially those propelled by electricity, it is usual to require them to be run with regularity and upon a predetermined time-schedule, and in wintertime especially it is inconvenient for the motorman to ascertain the time by inspecting his watch, and if the watch is hung upon the car it is liable to injury by the rapid vibrations and also by exposure to the weather. In some instances a rubber bag has been provided with an opening at one side, so that the watch may be slipped into the rubber bag and inclosed thereby, previous vto insertion into the pocket, the object being to protect the watch from acid fumes, moisture, &c.

In our invention a case of rubber or other elastic material is adapted to receive and protect the watch, and it is provided with a clip extending out from the case and adapted to grasp and hold upon the vertical stanchion supporting the roof, or one of the bars of the dashboard, or other convenient portion of the car, so that the watch can be held in position and easily observed by the conductor or motorman, and can be instantly detached and slipped into the pocket when the motorman may leave the car, thus providing for protecting the watch from the weather and from injury by the vibration of the car, because the clip that extends out from the holder is elastic and yields to the vibrations of the car, so that such vibrations are not communicated to the watch itself.

The case or holder ais made of elastic material, preferably of india-rubber, and it is of a size to receive within it the watch, and the rim 2 contracts around the edges of the glass or bezel, leaving the hands and face exposed through the glass, and there is a hollow extension 3 for receiving the shank and ring of the watch, and the case or holder being elastic allows the watch to be introduced into such case by passing the shank of the watch into the holldw shank-holder and then springing the rim 2 around the watch.

The clip Z) is of elastic material and pref- 6 erably made in one piece with the rest of the watch-holder, and it is divided at at, so that the clip can be opened and passed around the stanchion c, which stanchion may support the roof of the car at the end, as usual, or the clip may be placed around either of the bars or rods of the dashboard, or other convenient portion of the car.

The holder and clip are to be made as compact and light as consistent with the proper strength, so that the watch and its case can be readily detached by the driver from its stanchion or support and placed as a whole into his pocket, and when in use, the clip of elastic material intervening between the case and the support, lessens concussion or vibration, so as to prevent injury to the watch by being supported from any rigid portion of the car, and the motorman or driver is enabled to place the watch in a convenient position for observation, and hence the car can be run accurately upon time. 7

If desired, a glass d, supported by a rim 6, may be used in connection with the case or holder to protect the glass and face of the watch, the rim e being slipped around the case and preferably held by friction thereto.

The cap may be made of one piece of celluloid or other suitable material stamped or pressed up to shape, and, if transparent, a 0 glass may be dispensed with.

This holder may be used on bicycles, and the clip may be passed around the handlebar or any convenient portion of the frame,

and it may also be used on carriages or other vehicles and connected to the dashboard or any other available part.

\Ve claim as our invention- As a new article of manufacture the Water and dust proof watch-holder formed of indiarubber to receive and completely surround the watch, leaving the glass and face exposed, and with an elastic clip extending out from the holder and adapted to hold upon a stan- 1o chion or similar support, substantially as specified.

Signed by us this 3d day of February, 1896.

RICHARD S. WILES. HENRY A. GROUX. Vitnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, S. T. HAVILAND. 

